Sports - Local Colleges

POSTED: Saturday, Mar. 07, 2009

MEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Orcas top Clark 75-55

Whatcom Community College got another huge effort from Ryan Sweet and cruised to 75-55 victory over Clark in the NWAACC men's basketball tournament on Saturday, March 7.

Sweet posted his third straight double-double with game-highs of 32 points and 16 rebounds. In the three games of the tournament he now is averaging 27.7 points and 14 rebounds per game.

"We scouted, and we knew we had an advantage inside, so we fed Ryan," said Orca coach Chris Scrimsher in a phone interview. "You don't come to a tournament like this and put up those kinds of points and rebounds without working your butt off."

Point guard Zac Andrus had 17 points in support, and played nearly 33 minutes without a single turnover.

"I'm really proud of (Andrus)," said Scrimsher. "He did a great job running the offense and taking care of the ball."

Whatcom will face Mount Hood at 10 a.m. Sunday, March 8, with a shot at fifth place in the 35-team NWAAC.

WHATCOM 75, CLARK 55

Whatcom: Tyler Monroe 1-4 0-0 2; Zac Andrus 6-8 5-6 17; Jeremiah Larson 2-5 0-0 5; Jason Brown 0-1 0-0 0; Royal Pendergast 4-9 0-0 8; Steve Webb 0-4 2-4 2; Steve Ehrlich 0-3 2-2 2; Jesse Mortensen 0-2 0-0 0; Don Perconti 2-5 1-1 6; Sean Green: 0-3 1-3 1; Ryan Sweet 15-19 2-3 32; Totals 30-63 13-19 75.

Clark: Garrick Ashenfelter 0-4 0-0 0; Josh Manus 0-0 0-0 0; Brandon Jones 4-13 4-4 12; Derek Thurston 3-8 1-3 8; Grant Ziegler 3-6 2-2 8; Josh Hardin 0-0 0-0 0; Zach Walder 1-2 2-5 4; Travis Garrison 2-5 1-2 5; Jay Mercer 0-2 0-1 0; Ryan Anderson 5-13 2-4 13; Arman Kalan 2-5 1-2 5. Totals 20-58 13-23 55.

Halftime: WCC 35, Clark 27. 3-ptg: WCC 2-15 (Larson 1, Perconti 1); Clark 2-13 (Thurston 1, Anderson 1). Rebounds: WCC 49 (Sweet 16); Clark 34 (Anderson 5, Kalan 5). Assists: WCC 16 (Monroe 4); Clark 10 (Three with 2). Fouls: WCC 20; Clark 20. Turnovers: WCC 14, Clark 14.